Which is better for economics: Carnegie Mellon or Brown?

For economics specifically, Carnegie Mellon is usually the stronger choice if you want a more quantitative, analytical version of econ. CMU’s economics department is well known for econometrics, decision science, and ties to computer science, math, and public policy. Brown is also very respected, with the added flexibility of Brown’s open curriculum.

Academically, CMU stands out because economics there is often more technical than at many peer schools. The department has a distinctive focus on formal modeling, statistics, and interdisciplinary work, which can be excellent preparation for grad school, finance, analytics, or policy research. If you like structured training and want econ to overlap with machine learning, math, or computational work, CMU has a real edge.

Brown’s strength is different. The department is well established, and the university’s overall reputation is extremely strong. Brown may be the better fit if you want more freedom to shape your coursework, combine econ with humanities or social sciences, or explore without as many distribution requirements.

In terms of overall reputation in the field, both are legitimate and well regarded, but among economists and quantitatively minded students, CMU often gets extra respect for the distinctiveness of its econ training. Brown likely has broader name recognition with the general public because of Ivy status, but that is not the same as having the stronger economics department.

So if the question is strictly “which is better for economics,” CMU probably has the edge. If the question is “which is better for me as an econ student,” Brown can absolutely be the better choice if you value flexibility, campus culture, and a less technical approach.